I ran into one of my first year professors today. Professor Silano was already on the train as I got on at St. George station, and since he was engaged in what appeared to be a deep discussion with another professor, I decided not to interrupt. But he did look up when I got on, and I think I saw a look of recognition cross his face. I don’t know if he did recognise me, but it’s nice to think that he does remember me, that I made that much of an impression on him. Regardless, he certainly made an impression on me.

I really can’t speak for everyone else, but I think it would be safe for me to say that most of us come to post-secondary institutions with many preconceived notions. I know that I did. This particular professor, more than any other, and the class he taught on Catholic Church history did a lot to help me carefully rethink many of the things that I had previously accepted blindly. Please don’t get me wrong – this wasn’t a losing my religion kind of rethinking. And perhaps even he didn’t realise that the topics of discussion in his class were having such an effect on me. But they did.

I’m sure all of us, at one time or the other, have heard of the dangers of a university education, of the terrible things that happen to good Christian boys and girls who choose to venture so far from the fold. I’ve found the exact opposite to be true. If anything, I emerged from that class with a greater appreciation for what I’ve been given, eccentricities and all.